Volvo Begins Testing V60 Plug-in Hybrid

Volvo realized it’s just about time to boost development of its fleet of green cars. The spearhead of this project is of course the Volvo V60 plug-in hybrid. They just announced the car will soon be ready for its first test drive in Germany.

The V60 will be accompanied by two other new green models Volvo C30 Electric and the Volvo V50 DRIVe in Berlin test session, in its preparation for late 2012 launch.

The importance of the V60 is due to the great numbers it promises. Based on that the V60 should be the most perfect car in the world! It looks good, it is an estate which means it’s hugely practical, and in terms of power and economy it sets new standards with combined output of over 300 PS, fuel consumption of 150 mpg and CO2 emissions of under 50 g/km.

Check out the official press release below for more details on this astonishing car:

The first official road test drive with the unique Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid will take place at the 11th Michelin Challenge Bibendum in Berlin (18-22 May 2011).

All in all, Volvo Car Corporation enters the sustainability rally with three cars that emphasise the company’s leadership in combining environmental technology with a full luxury car experience.

The Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid, the Volvo C30 Electric and the Volvo V50 DRIVe featured in Berlin are three examples of Volvo Car Corporation’s uncompromising attitude to green motoring.

“In order to get true car enthusiasts to think green, you have to offer them the opportunity to drive with low carbon dioxide emissions without taking away the adrenaline rush that promotes genuine driving pleasure,” says Peter Mertens, Senior Vice President Research and Development at Volvo Car Corporation. He adds:

“Since the Michelin Challenge Bibendum drives include acceleration and handling tests as well as energy efficient driving, we expect that our cars will do very well. All of them are just as well equipped, comfortable, sporty and safe as all Volvo models.”

Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid – three cars in one

The Volvo V60 Plug-in Hybrid, which makes its official road test debut at Michelin Challenge Bibendum, integrates the very best properties from three different car types into a single attractive sports wagon. The driver chooses the preferred driving mode via three buttons on the instrument panel: Pure, Hybrid and Power.

In Pure mode the car runs only on its electric motor as much as possible. The driving range is up to 32 miles.

In the default Hybrid mode the diesel engine and electric motor interact to provide the optimal balance between driving pleasure and low environmental impact. Emissions of CO2 (NEDC) are 49 g/km, corresponding to diesel fuel consumption of 150 mpg. The car’s total range is up to 746 miles.

In Power mode the technology is optimised to give the car the best possible performance. The diesel engine and electric motor have a combined power output 215 + 70 horsepower and maximum torque of 440 + 200 Nm.

The car’s front wheels are driven by a five-cylinder 2.4-litre turbodiesel producing 215 hp/440 Nm. The rear axle has a 70 hp electric motor, which receives power from a 12 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

The V60 Plug-in Hybrid, which will be available on the market in 2012, is the result of close cooperation between Volvo Cars and Swedish energy supplier Vattenfall.

Volvo C30 Electric – 101 miles with almost zero emissions

The Volvo C30 Electric is as well-equipped, comfortable, sporty and safe as the standard C30 – while at the same time offering the driver a range of up to 93 miles per charge with almost zero carbon dioxide emissions.

The car has a 111 hp electric motor delivering 220 Nm of torque. The 24 kWh lithium-ion battery pack is recharged via a regular 230 volt power socket. A full 10-ampere charge takes approximately 10 hours. This time drops to less than seven hours with 16A.

The certified range according to the NEDC (New European Driving Cycle) is 101 miles. However, Volvo Cars specifies up to 93 kilometres as the car’s practical range. The energy produced during engine braking is used to regenerate the battery.

The C30 Electric accelerates from 0 to 43.5mph in just 6.5 seconds. The car has a top speed of 80.7 mph.

Volvo V50 DRIVe

The Volvo V50 DRIVe is equipped with a 1.6-litre common rail turbo diesel featuring start/stop and several other refinements that bring CO2 emissions down to 99 g/km. The engine produces 115 hp/270 Nm and fuel consumption (EU Combined) is 74.3 mpg.

Volvo’s DRIVe badge sits on the models that offer the best environmental performance in their segments. “We have moved ahead very quickly since we launched our first three 119 gram models in Paris in the autumn of 2008. The fact that we now have seven models below 120 g/km, three of them below 100 grams, emphasises that few of our competitors can match us in the drive for increasingly eco-efficient cars,” says Peter Mertens. He concludes:

“The V60 Plug-in Hybrid and the C30 represents our ambition bring electric power into the Volvo showrooms as soon as possible. The cars shown at Michelin Challenge Bibendum are part of test fleets that are very close to production quality.”

Michelin Challenge Bibendum

Michelin Challenge Bibendum is an international event that combines technical tests and evaluations, demonstrations and test drives to gauge the progress of vehicles, energies and technologies. Technologies and trends are debated in forums and conferences. Private and public sector opinion leaders and decision-makers gauge the advances and future sustainable energy paths for a better mobility.